Obligations of Wudu
The seven obligations without which wudu is not valid
Core Principle
Wudu has seven obligations, without which it is not valid: the intention, washing the face, washing the hands to the elbows, including them, wiping the head, washing the feet with the ankles, al-dalk (rubbing), and al-fawr (continuity)
Why It Matters
A pillar is that without which the act is not valid, whereas a sunna or recommended act is that whose omission decreases the reward. Wudu is not valid except through its seven obligations: whoever leaves a pillar, his wudu is invalid; whoever leaves a sunna, his reward is decreased
Lesson
Definition of a pillar and a sunna: - A pillar (*rukn*): the act is not valid without it. - A sunna (recommended): leaving it decreases the reward.
The obligations of wudu are seven:
1. **The intention (*niyya*):** intending the thing coupled with its action, and it is in the heart. A valid intention is required; it is made at the washing of the face, and it suffices if it came shortly before that. So whoever performs wudu intending only to sleep does not pray with that wudu. And reading the Quran while in a state of wudu is a sunna.
2. Washing the face: that is, the whole face; once is the obligation. - Its lengthwise limit: from where the hair of the head normally grows to the bottom of the chin. - Its widthwise limit: from the *watad* to the *watad*. - The meaning of washing: passing the hand over the washed limb while the water flows. - Washing the face means the whole face, including the eyebrows, the area under the nose, the visible part of the lips, and the *watad* likewise. - As for a man who has a beard: whoever has a thick beard passes his hand over it and moves it with the washing, and wiping suffices. If the beard is thin, *takhlīl* is obligatory. A thick beard: the skin's colour is not seen through it when conversing; a thin beard: the opposite. *Takhlīl*: making the water reach the skin. The same ruling applies to the eyebrow, and this is done gently without excess. - *Dalk* is necessary in wudu (at the washing).
3. Washing the hands to the elbows, including them: *takhlīl* of the fingers is obligatory; you insert your fingers from above, and it is from the fingertips to the elbows. The ring does not have to be removed; it may stay on the finger. Nail polish (*manicure*): wearing it after completing wudu is permitted and does not nullify it, but when performing wudu again it must be removed first, because it prevents the water from reaching the washed limb.
4. Wiping the head once, along with the hair that extends: the best is to start from the front and go to the back. Going back (*tarjīʿ*) is a sunna. The wiping: you only wet your hands.
5. Washing the feet, including the ankles: the hand must be passed over the whole foot. *Takhlīl* of the toes is recommended, not obligatory.
6. Al-dalk: passing the hand over the washed limb, with the palm of the hand. It is not required to be coupled with pouring the water.
7. Al-fawr: that is, continuity, without a long separation between them.
Key Points
- 1
A pillar is that without which the act is not valid; a sunna is that whose omission decreases the reward
- 2
The obligations of wudu are seven: the intention, washing the face, washing the hands to the elbows, including them, wiping the head, washing the feet with the ankles, al-dalk and al-fawr
- 3
The intention is in the heart, its place is at the washing of the face, and it suffices if it came shortly before that
- 4
The face's limit in length is from the hairline to the bottom of the chin, and in width from the *watad* to the *watad*
- 5
A thin beard requires takhlīl, while a thick beard only requires wiping
- 6
Takhlīl of the fingers in the hands is obligatory, while in the feet it is recommended and not obligatory
- 7
Al-fawr is continuity, without a long separation between the limbs
Glossary
الرُّكْن
al-rukn
A pillar: that without which the act is not valid
النيّة
al-niyya
The intention: aiming at the thing coupled with its act, and it is in the heart
الدَّلْك
al-dalk
Passing the hand over the washed limb, with the palm of the hand
الفَوْر
al-fawr
Continuity: not leaving a long separation between the limbs
التخليل
al-takhlīl
Making the water reach the skin (between the fingers or through the beard)
اللحية الكثيفة
al-liḥya al-kathīfa
A beard through which the skin's colour is not seen when conversing (its opposite is the thin beard)
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